VIDEO Warning: Graphic content some viewers may find disturbing

Spectator sport: Parents and two young children sit next to the tiger for their picture in front of a wildlife background

Kept in line: It is not clear where or when the footage was taken, but left below the video posted online suggest it may have been at a zoo in the popular beach resort of Beidaihe in the Chinese city of Qinhuangdao

Abused: A tourist laughs as one of the men armed with sticks makes sure the animal faces the camera

In January last year, the Chinese government banned zoos from putting on cruel animal performances after increased pressure from outraged animal rights groups.

A study by Animals Asia in 2010 found bears were often whipped and beaten with sticks, elephants were prodded with metal hooks, while tigers and lions were made to endure chronic pain by being defanged and declawed.

But months after the ban came into force, some zoos were found to still be flouting the law.